Hi,
We have a great airfare to Milan, and then want to tour Germany for a month. We're considering a cheap flight to Berlin or Hamburg, then working our way south- maybe to Vienna-then back to Milan.
We're looking for suggestions on where to go. We want to get an appreciation of the countryside, but we like urban areas, too. We wonder if just train touring is enough, or should we rent a car?
Thanks for your help.
It would be good for your planning to spend some time with a guidebook and really identify which cities and rural regions of Germany you'd like to see in a month. Your answer might be clearer if you check distances, rental or leasing prices, gasoline prices and train tickets.
We've done the reverse of what you are doing with your flight. We flew into Munich and took the train down to Milan for 39€ with an early intercountry fare. You could fly into Milan and take the train up to Munich. When you are finished with Munich you could rent a car and begin your Germany drive. Most likely trains will go to most places efficiently that you'd like to explore but until you've outlined some driving/train routes you won't know what will work best for you.
If you rent a car in Munich and return it in Germany before taking the train back to Milan (or flying Berlin to Milan) you'll avoid a drop off fee. To check the cost of driving distances and fuel most people use www.viamichelin.com. To check train prices you should use www.bahn.de
"We want to get an appreciation of the countryside."
In Germany this is surely possible by train. Two of Europe's most scenic train routes are in Germany, according to Eurail.com.
Then there's the Mosel Valley line between Koblenz and Bullay and the Neckar Valley line out of Heidelberg.
Trains also go to mountain towns like Berchtesgaden and Mittenwald. On Lake Constance, near the Swiss border, Lindau (island) is a popular train destination.
Germany has over 5,000 train stations. There are less than 40 cities in Germany with populations above 200,000. So obviously there are thousands of small cities and tiny towns that are served by train - including many towns on theme routes like the Fairy Tale Road, the Half-timbered Route, the German Castle Road, the German Wine Road, the Romantic Road - towns connected by asphalt but but possible by train too.
You will probably be interested in a German rail pass of some kind.
Note that the German Rail pass isn't just for Germany - it now includes some foreign destinations, including rail routes between Italy and Germany (see p.2.) Heading across the Alps by train is something you have time for and may be a more enjoyable way to get there than flying.
Start with a good guidebook. A good one covers the entire country, and not just Bavaria + Berlin.
Here is a map Germanys highlights according to Baedeker, the country's most popular travel guide:
Highlights of Germany
A good guidebook should list all places shown on this map.
